The Difference Between Bullshit and The Real Shit

by John M. Ellison IV

I was online earlier checking my mail and one of the stories was about a guitarist that recently passed on.  Since he was only 39, I’m thinking “Wow, kind of young.”  The guitarist in question was Mat Arluck of Chicago band Sweet Cobra.  Like most of the readers, I haven’t heard of them.  After reading the article and listening to some of their music, although it wasn’t much to write home about, a loss in music is a loss in music.  I read some of the comments regarding the story.  Aside from fans expressing their sadness, I noticed a common thread of comments, such as “Why does AOL always cover bands I’ve never heard of?”, “If they were so good, why hasn’t anybody heard of them?” and other asinine questions.  Here’s the problem, the general public confuses “good music” with “popular music.”  Outside of the R&B stuff I’m exposed to, my musical heroes and inspirations are The Ramones, Bad Brains, Frank Zappa, Esham, Tech N9ne, Wale and many others who haven’t gained recognition or the promotion they deserve or deserved.

A few things, when it comes to the music business…it’s not really about music, it’s about business and then music.  Almost every facet of popular music is more or less run through a template of A&R research, image consulting and process of constant promotion to a public that could care less about listening to something past what they’re exposed to on the radio or whatever.

But, there is a double edge sword to “indie/underground” music.  With musical equipment and high speed internet becoming more accessible and affordable, people that don’t have any real talent can share their work with an unsuspecting public.  When I was younger, underground meant “cutting edge” and “too good for traditional musical outlets.”  Now, underground can be defined as “hackneyed douche bags that are so flawed in their musical and or songwriting approach that the only way they can justify their sound is by being pretentious.”

Awhile back, I was at Bowie State University attending a screening of the film Afro-Punk by my former professor.  My sister attended the screening and she mentioned that “I didn’t like it when certain bands I enjoyed became mainstreamed because I felt they sold out.”  That’s true to a point.  It’s not because that band I liked went mainstream, it’s because they compromised their sound for a public that isn’t receptive and with that compromise, everything I liked about that band was lost.  For the record, I will support a band that I like if they make a progression that they feel comfortable with.  But if everything that I enjoyed is eschewed from said band, why would I care to listen?  I don’t feel it’s wrong if a band is on MTV or FUSE.  What I feel is wrong that, if said band is pandering for wider recognition and an attempt for financial gain from a public of clueless consumers that aren’t that interested anyway.

Now, to connect these two seemingly separate points together.

I was reading an interview with the drummer from either Nickelback or Puddle of Mud.  Either way, it was one of those groups.  The drummer was well spoken and mentioned all of his influences.  It seems that he has a good varied taste in music.  But, listening to him play, I wouldn’t have known this.  Same with Mick Mars, he considers himself a blues guy that really despised Heavy Metal.  In fact, he sang the praises of Bootsy Collins and George Clinton.  But, for the sake of record sales, both bands have to pander to the record buying public, which are people that don’t even really enjoy music.

In this case, I might as well start selling extra rare cheeseburgers to vegetarians.